I have always been analytical. That doesn't guarantee anything other than I try to make decisions on a flat playing field rather than an obstacle course. Isaiah....through God's words....was in the middle of telling Judah and Jerusalem how wicked they were when he penned this...."Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." Isaiah 1: 18-20
This seems pretty straightforward to me. There are many parts of Revelation where reason and analysis and logic do not come into play....at this time....but the third verse in the book seems plain enough right now...."Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near." Revelation 1:3
The cults within Christianity do not think this way....for there is no room for reason or logic or analysis. If they did....no one would believe the Mormon church or the Watchtower. The Word/Faith movement is gnosticism....where God supposedly gives special people special revelation...where they do not need reason....they only need inspiration....no matter where it might come from.
A couple of months into President Trump's term I could see that something was terribly wrong. The rationalization of voting for him over Hillary could only go so far. I did not trade in a pen and a highlighter and a pair of reading glasses for a saffron robe and tamborine.
I have looked for a long time now at what evangelicalism has become. A soul....a person....is going to a real hell....but yanked out....because God Himself....subjected Himself....to torture and shame and physical death....to pay a debt that was impossible for us to pay...but that same soul....that person....in response....in as much as just throws God a bone and says.....'Thanks.'
There is no logic here. John Piper....in his new book....Come, Lord Jesus....used the term....moderate affections. We are a church and a movement of moderate affections! What kind of God would this even be? Where would be the meaning in life with a God that could get pushed around by the likes of us? How could the righteous and fearsome God of the Old Testament....who would bring the rod when necessary....become the doting grandfather who spoils rotten the brattish kid?
How does one square Joel Osteen with William Tyndale? Did John Bunyan spend years in jail....so that church doors could remain open....or that whoever walked through the doors could hear the gospel?
Let me get this straight....just a hypothetical....a Christian shouts and cheers because a multi-millionaire does something considered special....with a ball or an object of some sort....and that same Christian dies of a heart-attack....or by some other means....coming home from the contest....and then according to the new narrative finds himself immediately at the foot of Jesus Christ....but now shouting out....Holy Holy Holy? There's got to be a smell test here folks.
Speaking of tests....most standardized tests want to know....what you know....so they might penalize you for wrong answers....thinking you were just guessing. The LSAT wants to know how you analyze....so it does not penalize for wrong answers.
So you are a Christian. You have a certain amount of knowledge on the Christian Faith...."Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ....and you shall be saved." You also know that God's Word says that He is holy....two facts. These and other things you know....but nothing has to jive with anything else.
Yet another also accepts...."Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ....and you shall be saved."....and also knows that God is...."holy"....but he considers how the two can exist together. He comes up with an answer....with the help of other scriptures....it turns out to be the correct answer....to a question that the first person chose not to answer.
